1996 slicktop help/restore

[droid017]

Hey all. I've been poking around here a bit trying to learn as much about my Z as I can before I start diverting 90% of my paychecks into her, but the time has come. This will be probably 10% me doing stuff and 90% me asking you guys things, so please bear with me. First things first, she obviously needs paint. Once you get past that, she's not actually half bad looking. No dents or rust. The only other thing is it looks like someone set a grenade off in the passenger side footwell, but that will soon be remedied. I'll mostly need help with part names and numbers as I go, since a lot of them are obscure trim screws or what have you. Things in my car aren't broken, they're just straight up not there, which makes my job a little harder since I don't know what was there to begin with.




I've currently got a new dashboard, glovebox, and trim for the passenger side waiting to go in. The only thing I don't know is how to attach this guy


And if there is anything that goes up under the passenger dashboard to close off the compartment.

Secondly, there's no heat, and recently the AC stopped blowing cold. It looks like the heater core burst somewhere along the line, however I know the previous owner rerouted all the under-plenum lines, so that might explain the big rust streak on the carpet. Should I order a new heater box? I'll be taking the dash out soon so if it needs replacing, now's the time.


Does anyone know what is supposed to plug in here?

or here?


Lastly does anyone know if there is a part number for the screws that go here on the door sill?


I also need a part number forthe screws that hold the radio bezel on, and the screws to mount the glovebox.

Lastly, the previous owner was running straight water in the radiator , so its a little rusty any idea how to flush most/all of the rust out?

Thanks guys for all of your help. Hopefully she'll be on her way to greatness soon. And because I know you are all pic-hungry, here she is. It's a 96 slicktop with a TT swap of an unknown year. Yes I realize it's now a bastard car but I love the look of the slicktop and the power of the TT, so she's perfect for me. The only thing really wrong is that the battery dies if it sits for more than a week. The battery is good, and its not the radio, so something else is draining on it. Any ideas here are appreciated. Things on my agenda are new tension rods, restoring the interior, boost gauge, and paint, and the obvious engine dress-up and trim restoration/replacement. She runs like a champ, even on stock wastegate boost.

[Ace2cool]

All right, good to see someone putting the love and time into her that she deserves. First off, the first "what plugs in here" is the fender located clutch bleed point. The second one is wiring that was utilized for later years, so if he swapped in a <'93(?) engine, it may not be utilized. I know my 2+2 has that, but my TT doesn't.

As far as the heater core, that's a pain. I wouldn't order a new one till I knew what exactly was wrong. Hell, the lines may just be bypassed at the back of the block, but if they are, there's usually a good reason. Most likely a burst hose somewhere in the dash. Just gotta track down the issue and move from there.

That curved plastic part goes under the glove box and secures with snap clips.

And lastly, the screws and stuff, you just gotta find a match at the hardware store. I'm sure there are part numbers, but you'd have to go through the dealership to get them. Also, one other thing I see is that you're missing your fan shroud, or at least the upper half. It really does help with cooling the engine.

[marty1mc]

^ I'd say it's the heater core. Look at all that orange on the carpet! However, there is a procedure to change it without pulling the dash. Look at this thread on 3ZC. It has a complete procedure on how to replace the heater without pulling the dash. I wish this thread was around when I did mine!

http://www.300zxclub.com/showthread.php ... eater+core

[droid017]

Took out the console and shifter today to replace the bushings. There are two rubber seals in the bracket that holds the shifter, mine are torn to bits. I can't find a part number anywhere for them. Does anyone have a name or number? I'll post pics soon. Dash is coming out tomorrow, again with more pics and I'll know about the heater core.

[droid017]

Right. So, here's the carnage. Everything that isn't painted has a light coat of rust on it, which annoys me, so all bare metal is getting painted. I know that no one will ever see it, but it's for my own meticulous peace of mind. Anyone have tips for getting the security bolts out? It's the last thing holding the brace in. Also, is it going to be alright if I just unplug the passenger airbag and leave it in? the replacement dash I have is from an older model without an airbag.







Here are the rubber gaskets that I can't find anywhere. Even in the exploded diagram of the shifter, only the bottom (larger) seal is shown as a part. I tried to show were they were originally, one on top and bottom of the shifter socket, covered by the bracket that holds the whole thing down. I'd really like to replace them but I have no idea what they are or where to get them.





They would go inside of here. I stole this from another site because mien was apart before I though to take pictures.



Next, heater core. It's 100 dollars cheaper to buy a core without the hoses, is that going to be viable? or do I need to buy the complete piece? here are the two for comparison.


http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/detai ... 93002.html

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/detai ... 03693.html


And the OEM http://www.importpartspro.com/ni30oemheco.html


And back to the shifter bushings. somehow the sleeve that is supposed to be there is missing. Can I get away without it? I don't know how the previous owner lost all of these things....

[droid017]

Took out the driver headlight since it was leaking. Trying to figure out how to get it apart to repaint/seal it. I have these stupid mushroom things for intakes.



I think the guy who did the swap put in this cheap a** intercooler kit. Is it possible to get SMICs in an NA? I'm not very happy with this setup.

http://www.protuninglab.com/wm-sa300z-icai.html

My car is also missing these.

http://www.z1motorsports.com/product_in ... ts_id=3740

Z1 says it can affect cruise control, I don't see how that's possible.

[droid017]

Found this on z1. it shows the two pieces I need, calls them grease boots, but I can't find them separate anywhere

http://www.z1motorsports.com/product_in ... ts_id=2565

[droid017]

Disregard, found the rubber boots.

[Chattzx]

Running straight up water in the radiator is gonna be a PITA to get clean if it rusted anything like mine did. My heater core was bypassed as it was clogged up from rust and other deposits from the past owner being stupid and needed to be replaced. I would STRONGLY recommend buying 1 bottle of ER cooling system cleaner before you even think about buying a new heater core and putting it in. You have to buy it online and its like $24 bucks, but my god did it ever work wonders.